Chapter 26: The Intervention

It was getting cold as she walked to the warm, familiar light. The chilly weather couldn't conquer the heat emitting from her heart as the sweet memories made that same morning reached her mind. Sami remembered how difficult it had been for her to leave him and their home even for a short while.

"Do you have everything?" he had asked for the tenth time and she had clung to him for the twelfth time.

"Yes I do. Do you?"

"I'm not going anywhere", he had objected and sought out her lips again.

"Yes you are. I'm expecting to see you at the pub tonight. Hopefully by the time you get there I've managed to placate my family enough for them to listen and accept what we are about to tell them."

"I'm afraid you are expecting too much of your family, my love."

"Maybe I am", she had admitted, "But you'll be there, wont you?"

"I promised. I'll be there."

"Good", she had sighed and kissed him.

Sami snapped back to reality and walked through the Brady Pub doors. Her family and few others too were there waiting for her.

"Mum?" Sami asked and saw Marlena turn to meet her. Her mother smiled and squinted in that way she always does. Marlena opened her arms and waited for Sami to embrace her. Sami obliged and hugged her mother quickly before asking:

"What are Lucas and Kate doing here?"

"They are part of this too", Marlena replied still smiling.

"But I thought-" Sami started but stopped as her eyes reached Lucas who was holding Joy in his arms.

"Sami", Lucas said with a wary tone and a vacant face.

"Lucas", Sami nodded politely. Her expression softened as she turned to look at Joy and then at Johnny.

"What did you say?" she had to ask as she slowly realized Lucas was asking her something.

"I hope you don't mind me hogging the twins. Belle brought them here and said that I should at least try to bond with them before-" Sami found herself shaking her head.

"It's quite all right and Belle was speaking the truth. You should spent some time with the twins, after all they are yours. You don't owe me any explanations why you haven't been around but you will owe them one."

"I thought that EJ wouldn't want me to see the twins", Lucas said.

"He actually expects you to be part of their lives. He said so", Sami said and felt herself blush. She couldn't know that Lucas could see the glow of happiness taking over her body and the love sparkling in her eyes. Sami didn't realize that in that moment she set Lucas free. Lucas finally saw what he had never been able to give Sami and understood why they had failed to make their relationship work all those times. What ever doubts he might have had about their separation, disappeared at that moment. The pain of seeing her happy was all Lucas needed to seal a decision he had made.

"Sami, about that. I might not be-"

"Where's Belle?" She cut in and Lucas sneered. Sami hadn't been listening to him and he suddenly felt irrelevant but it didn't bother him that much.

"Philip called and I think she's still talking to him", Kate answered her question and walked closer to them, "Is there any chance that I could hold my grandson?"

EJ stopped outside to pub window to steal a glance of the pride of lions waiting for him inside. What he saw, was enough to stop his heart from beating. Samantha was inside talking with Kate and Lucas, who were holding the twins. They were surrounded by the Brady's and they all looked happy and peaceful. They actually laughed at something Kate had said.

"What are you doing here junior?" Bo asked as he and Roman stepped out of the shadows to the light. EJ turned to face his in-laws.

"Good evening Bo, Roman", EJ nodded demurely, "Samantha is expecting to see me."

"I doubt that", Roman replied with a disdain for the man in front of him. EJs mouth twitched.

"I assure you it's true. She demanded my presence tonight." Roman laughed a little laugh:

"She must have finally decided to ditch you and go back to Lucas, the man she truly loves." Inadvertently EJ flinched and started to look inside the pub before he could stop himself.

"I have my doubts about that", he contented himself to say.

"Well I don't. I know that my niece wants you out of her life and I'm here to save her from the trouble of sending you off", Bo huffed. This time EJ turned to really look at the blond temptress flirting inside the pub. He saw an angel enchanting everyone around her.

"Take a good long look Elvis", Romans voice was menacing, "This is the last time you'll ever set your eyes on my daughter."

"I believe you are right", EJ agreed out loud but refusing to elaborate, "If you would be so kind and give her this." EJ said handing something to Roman and nodding for a goodbye. Bo and Roman watched the tall man walk away before walking into the pub and feeling more relieved than they had felt in months.

EJ walked back to his car. He saw his tools on the back seat and a blade glimmering in the dark. His fingers started to itch as a thought was formed in his head. He glanced at the pub for one last time and thought to himself: Why not.